Track-level



H. MATOBA. TRACK LEVEL.

- APPLHEATION FILED MAY 29. I919. 1,329,196. Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

if J /9 I 79 3 3/ z/ Z0 4/ WITNESSES INVENTOI? fz z A TTOISWEVS HISASHI MATOIBA, OF WHITEFISH, MONTANA.

TRACK-LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed May 29, 1919. Serial No. 300,501.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, llisasrir MATOBA, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, and a resident of Whitefish, in the county of Flat- 1 sad and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Track-Level, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to track levels for determining the relative height of the track rails at curves or the like, and has reference more particularly to a device of this kind whiclf comprises a beam, means near one end thereof for engaging a track rail, and vertically adjustable measuring element near the other end of the beam, for determining the degree of banking at any par ticular part of the track. The invention further relates to a track level having an adjustable measuring element provided with suitable graduations, in combination with means for securing the measuring element in different positions of adjustment.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable track level, which can be inexpensively produced, and by means of which the level at any point of a railway or other track may be easily and expeditiously determined.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a track level which can be easily carried and readily manipulated, which is capable of use with tracks of different gages, by means of which the track level can be determined at sight, without calculation or figuring, and in which the adjustable measuring element can be quickly set for different adjustments, and when so set is securely held in position.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in. which'similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of an embodiment of my invention, showing a part thereof in section;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal plan view of the level;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssection of one end of the device, showing the adjustable measuring element; and

Fig. 4: is a transverse section on the line ll of Fig. 3.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be understood that the level may be manufactured from any suitable material, though I prefer to employ wood for the body or beam of the level, and metal such as cast-iron, for the other parts. Certain of the details of construction form no part of the invention, and may be varied in accordance with individual preference or special conditions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide a level body or beam 10 of rectangular cross section. Intermediate its ends, and preferably at the center, the beam is provided with an elongated, longitudinal recess 11 in which is located a spirit level 12 of the usual construction. A plate 13 having a central, elongated opening 14 is secured over the spirit level, to secure the same in place, and yet leaveit visible. A handle 15 of any type adapted for the purpose is secured to the beam, by means of brackets 16, and extends over the spirit level. By means of this handle the level can be easily manipulated and at the same time it serves as a guard for the spirit level.

At one end, the beam 10 is reduced to receive a J-shaped frame 17, the sides of which are fitted into the reduced upper and lower faces of the beam and have their outer surfaces flush with the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. The frame, at the lower side, is latera ly extended and presents downwardly-extending flanges 18, in which is positioned a saddle-plate 19 adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the head of the rail 20. The flanges 18 depend at either side of the rail head and prevent m vement of the level, transversely of the track, and thus serve to position it.

At the other end, the beam is likewise reduced and has mounted thereon a frame 21. The beam and the sides of the frame 21 are provided with registering openings 22 and 23 in which is movably positioned a verticall 1 adjustable measuring element 24. having at its lower end a laterally extended base 25 adapted to seat upon the head of the other track rail 26. The inner edge of the measuring element, which is in the form of a flat bar or rod, is provided with a plurality of teeth or serrations 27, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. At one side, the measuring element has a plurality of graduations 28 with corresponding numerals These graduations may be of any suitable kind but are preferably in inches, to indicate in linear units the height of one 'railabove or below the level ofthe other at any point of the track.

Secured upon the upper leg of the frame 21 is a housing 30 of inverted-channel form and provided with laterally extending flanges 31. The flanges are secured to the frame by means of screws 32 or in any other suitable manner. The end of the housing adjacent to the measuring element is open. At the other end, the housing is closed by a wall 33 provided with an opening 34. A keeper 35 preferably in the form of a rod, is arranged within the housing and has a threaded end 36 projecting through the opening 34. Secured upon the threaded end, by means of a correspondingly threaded opening, is a manipulating handle 37. lVithin the housing, the keeper has a head 38 of rectangular cross-section and provided with a finger 37 adapted to engage between any two of the adjacent teeth 27 of the measuring element. Arranged upon the keeper within the housing, is a spiral spring 40 engaging at one end the head 38, and at the other end the wall 33. The spring tends normally to force the keeper into operative engagement with the measuring element; in order to release the latter the keeper is retracted against the tension of the spring 35, by means of the handle 37. The measuring element can thus be adjusted upwardly or downwardly into any desired position. Upon releasing the handle 37, the keeper again engages the measuring element to hold the latter in the desired position.

At the upper end, the measuring element has an opening in which is mounted a laterally projecting pin 41, constituting a stop to limit the downward movement of the element. It will be understood that the laterally extended base 25, by its engagement with the under side of the frame 21 limits the upward movement of the measuring element.

As will clearly be seen from Fig. 1, the beam 10 is upwardly offset and has its lower edge normally a substantial distance above the upper surfaces of the rails, due to the downward projection of the frames 17 and 21. In this way the level can be used at crossings and rail intersections and will clear intermediate rails or frogs, as shown.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A track level comprising a beam, a rail-- engaging member near one end of said beam and having a part arranged to extend clownwardly at the side of the rall, a frame at the other end of said beam, said beam and saidv frame having re isteri' g, vertical openings, a scale bar slidc bly mounted in said opening, a housing secured upon said frame, a keeper movably mounted in said housing and adapted to engage and hold said scalebar, and spring means for holding said keeper normally in operative position with respect to said scale bar.

2. A track level comprising a beam, a railengaging member near one end of said beam, a level carried by said beam, a frame carried near the other end of said beam, a verticallyadjustable scale bar slidably associated with said frame and having serrations, a housing secured upon said frame, a keeper slidably, mounted in said houslng and having means permitting its manipulation, said keeper having a part adapted to engage said serrations to hold said scale bar in different adjusted positions, and a spring holding said keeper in normally operative position.

HISASHI MATOBA. 

